The Air India/Indian Airlines combine lost over Rs. 55 billion last year that is over $ 1 billion US. The politicians are mulling over how much money to put into this eternal cesspit to keep it going. This being a government enterprise criminal politicians and kleptocrats get to travel free with family. They can check in late and expect flights to wait for them thus inconveniencing paying passengers. They can behave anyway they like, for instance, molesting women knowing that airline staff will back them up. The airlines have too many staff, abysmal productivity and enormous corruption. It will, therefore, be a crime against the people if a single rupee is wasted on this useless airline. Instead we, the taxpayers, demand that the airlines be shut down immediately and the Rs. 55 billion is used to compensate the staff, not that they deserve any compensation. This would save vast sums in the future. Instead taxes on airline tickets should be calculated as a percentage of the offered price of the ticket which will allow private airlines to compete. That would really improve services and make them cheaper, much like mobile services have improved. The aam aadmi is tired of travelling ' cattle class ' on trains and yearns to fly.